Beryllium-aluminum alloy



Patented Dec. 26, 1933 1,941,230 BERYLLIUM-ALUMINUM ALLOY Joseph Kent Smith, Detroit,

The Beryllium Corporation,

Mich., assignor New York, N.

a corporation of Delaware No Drawing.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to alloys in which aluminum predominates, and to which alloys, other metals, beryllium in particular, have been added not only to improve strength and mechanical characteristics, but also at once to reduce the specific gravity of the alloy and to give it greater resistance to atmospheric corrosion and similar influences.

. It has long been known that the addition of beryllium to aluminum results in an alloy which is considerably lighter than is pure aluminum itself, the lessening in weight varying linearly with the beryllium content by volume. At the same time, the resistance to corrosion is considerably improved as beryllium increases in content.

Because of the relatively high cost of beryllium, it is frequently desirable to keep the proportion of this element as low as possible, yet not sacrifice its valuable strengthening effects. For this reason, I have sought for combinations of metals which added to aluminum-beryllium alloys, would intensify the efiects of beryllium, and this invention relates to alloys of such type. Only [those alloys higher in aluminum than in beryllium are here considered.

- I have found that, by the addition of small quantities of manganese and zirconium, with and without simultaneous additions of small quantities of molybdenum, the effect of beryllium is magnified, and the resulting alloy has materially greater strength, workability, castability, bendability, as well as resistance to corrosion, than the simple binary alloy possesses. In general; I prefer compositions in which the content of aluminum and beryllium is at least ninety-five percent. v

The manganese and zirconium, with the molybdenum if desired, as well as the beryllium for alloys low in beryllium, may be added as a master alloy, alloyed with any convenient percentage of aluminum. These metals may also be added individually directly to an aluminum-beryllium alloy previously made in any of the. standard manners, or the final alloy can be formed by reduction of convenient manganese and zirconium (also molybdenum if desired) compounds directly by the previously-formed binary aluminum-' beryllium alloy.

ance with this invention are particularly well suited for castings requiring strength beyond that or ordinary alumin or even. its stronger alloys, like duralumin. They are also weil adapted for use in she The multi constituent alloys made in accord-- et form, as in the case of airplane wings or the combination of strength and ready ing is essential.

to Y.,

Application December 22, 1931 Serial No. 582,655

fuselage parts, or wherever low specific gravity, great bendability without break- I prefer to have the aluminum content run from about 55% to from about 25% to ance of about 5% equal amounts of manganese about 70%, the beryllium about 40%, with the balmade up of approximately and zirconium and molybdenum, if used-about from approximate- 1y to approximately 2 each but with a total of not more materially than 5%.

A preferred analysis is:-

Per cent A1 60.0 Be -l- 38.2 Mn .5 Zr .4: Mo .5

99.6 Mg added .7

' The percentages are by weight.

I claim:- 1. A beryllium-aluminum alloy containing from about 55% to aluminum, from about 25% to about 40% ganese molybdenum beryllium, and the balance manand zirconium from about- /2 to about 2 /2% each.

2. A beryllium-aluminum mately the following 70%, beryllium 25%,

ganese molybdenum alloy of approxicompositions: aluminum with the balance manand zirconium in approximately equal amounts.

3. A berylli -aluminum alloy containing a preponderance of aluminum by weight but'not less than approximately of approximately 70% 55% and not in excess of the total, said alloy comprising manganese, molybdenumand zirconium from-about /2% to about 2 /2% each, with,

the balance of the alloy consisting in beryllium. JOSEPH KENI SMITH. 

